Kubota L39TLB access

[keevan]

Hello,

I have had and love using a Kubota B 2910 with backhoe for 15 years but aging and several injuries (knee and shoulder) have made getting off and on to operate the backhoe and then returning to tractor front increasingly difficult. I am looking at the L39TLB as I think you can you move from front to backhoe and then return without getting off tractor? Anybody have any thoughts about this?

I checked out the B3350 but you still have to get up, rotate chair, get off and get on so it's really not an advantage and in fact, getting off backhoe is harder and potentially more dangerous than what I have.

Thanks.

 

[Stonehaller]

On my L39, I usually stand up, rotate the seat, step along side the seat and sit back down. There's not that much knee room to rotate the seat while sitting. However, I am not getting on and off the tractor. Also, while seated forward, you can reach back and operator the stabilizes or other hoe controls. It helps for positioning the tractor to dig on slopes or hills when you can operator the brake and clutch as required and then drop the stabilizers.

 

[keevan]

Great. Standing up, rotating seat, and sitting is no problem. Thanks!

Is that the L39 lifting that rock in your picture?

 

[robstaples]

Depending on my shoes, I can stay seated and drag my feet around . Sneakers -yes, boots - no. I have a B3350 and a l39tlb. Only a front loader on my B3350 , and it's kinda a toy compared to the 39. I think you'll love it. I do. Except in the winter when it's cold.

 

[Stonehaller]

Is that the L39 lifting that rock in your picture?

Yes, that's it. Here's another one.

 

[Grandad4]

If you're shopping for a used one, you might also look at a few others that would have similar capability or better. Finding a clean TLB in good condition can be a challenge so widening your search a bit might improve your choices. L45, L48, L35 and JD110 might also work for you. Of course there's nothing like a shiny new tractor, if that's your plan!

 

[Gary Fowler]

On my B26, I can rotate the seat 90 degrees then step across it, sit down and finish rotating to locked position. No way is there clearance to sit and turn. With the B26 getting on and off is not a problem even for my brother in law who has a bad rotator cuff and bad wrist. I is close to the ground with only one step and with outriggers up or down on the hoe, a clean step up is possible. He also had knee replacement so stepping across the seat in impossible for him, but no problem getting up and down on it.

My 66 year old body can barely make it across the seat when transferring from drive to backhoe, but I still manage at least for a few more years hopefully.

 

[mike69440]

Great. Standing up, rotating seat, and sitting is no problem. Thanks!

Is that the L39 lifting that rock in your picture?

That tiny pebble?

These are good machines.

 

[mike69440]

If you're shopping for a used one, you might also look at a few others that would have similar capability or better. Finding a clean TLB in good condition can be a challenge so widening your search a bit might improve your choices. L45, L48, L35 and JD110 might also work for you. Of course there's nothing like a shiny new tractor, if that's your plan!

All good choices, the L45 has a bit more curl force and M series front Axle, Hydro and a bit more power, although you loose the extra HP to wheels it with the Hydro.

Nothing wrong with the others although the JD110 is Very, Very expensive to repair. Not just very expensive like the orange are!)

 

[mike69440]

Depending on my shoes, I can stay seated and drag my feet around . Sneakers -yes, boots - no. I have a B3350 and a l39tlb. Only a front loader on my B3350 , and it's kinda a toy compared to the 39. I think you'll love it. I do. Except in the winter when it's cold.

Burr!

 

[kcender]

Burr!

Mike,I am guessing you have wheel spacers on the rear axle.If so,how thick are they and what do you think the minimum thickness would be that would still allow chains?

 

[Stonehaller]

That tiny pebble?

These are good machines.

Show off

Placing rocks in the L39 bucket with the excavator does not count as lifting them with the L39. But those are impressive pictures.

 

[mike69440]

Mike,I am guessing you have wheel spacers on the rear axle.If so,how thick are they and what do you think the minimum thickness would be that would still allow chains?

I have inner & outer wheel Wieghts to add another 750 Lbs to stablize the tractor.
1 inch spacers are enough, 1.25" would be better.

 

[mike69440]

Show off

Placing rocks in the L39 bucket with the excavator does not count as lifting them with the L39. But those are impressive pictures.

Granted it would be a we bit difficult to scoop up a pile of rocks that high in the bucket without loading in them in with the excavator, but what did you think I did with those rocks?
I picked them up and moved them 1/3 mile away.

PS
(Never, never drop rocks in a loader bucket with an ecavator with the loader bucket elevated, as the impact wrecks the fornt axle.
Always firmly have the bucket on firm ground so the shock load of dropping the rocks does not tranfer to the front axle)
Don't ask me how I know this.

 

[avc8130]

All good choices, the L45 has a bit more curl force and M series front Axle, Hydro and a bit more power, although you loos it with the Hydro.

Nothing wron with the others although the JD110 is very Very expensive to repair. Not just very expensive like the orange are!)

I've owned an L39 and currently own an L45. I'll gladly give back that extra power to have the HST. I was blissfully in love with the GST on the L39...until I owned the L45 for a few weeks. I thoroughly enjoyed operating the GST on the L39. You really get into the hang of using ALL of your appendages to accomplish loader work. The HST in the L45 is just so much easier to operate and that ease translates directly into efficiency.

The wider front axle is noticed. The turning radius on the L45 is not as good as the L39. I'll deal with it for the added stability and lower stress level on the front components.

ac

 

[mike69440]

I've owned an L39 and currently own an L45. I'll gladly give back that extra power to have the HST. I was blissfully in love with the GST on the L39...until I owned the L45 for a few weeks. I thoroughly enjoyed operating the GST on the L39. You really get into the hang of using ALL of your appendages to accomplish loader work. The HST in the L45 is just so much easier to operate and that ease translates directly into efficiency.

The wider front axle is noticed. The turning radius on the L45 is not as good as the L39. I'll deal with it for the added stability and lower stress level on the front components.

ac

I agree.

I am very at one with the GST. Not great on hills due to roll back and danger of being careless forgetting setting e brake and dropping bucket before dismounting. I do a lot of roading. I like the GST better than hydro for that. Loader work with a hydro is easier. 3 x 2 Hydro on Kubota is neat. The old L48 needed an extra range between M & H.

I do not like straight gear or 2 speed hydros at all as the limit the capabilities of the machine. My new Mahindra max28 is an 8x8 Mechanical shuttle, not as nice as the GST, but way more versatile than the 6 F/ 2R gear of my previous trusty B7200.

Kubota finally offered a nice Cab with the new L47 & M62, **** them! I wonder if they will cost less than a full size TLB?

 

[avc8130]

I agree.

I am very at one with the GST. Not great on hills due to roll back and danger of being careless forgetting setting e brake and dropping bucket before dismounting. I do a lot of roading. I like the GST better than hydro for that. Loader work with a hydro is easier. 3 x 2 Hydro on Kubota is neat. The old L48 needed an extra range between M & H.

I do not like straight gear or 2 speed hydros at all as the limit the capabilities of the machine. My new Mahindra max28 is an 8x8 Mechanical shuttle, not as nice as the GST, but way more versatile than the 6 F/ 2R gear of my previous trusty B7200.

Kubota finally offered a nice Cab with the new L47 & M62, **** them! I wonder if they will cost less than a full size TLB?

That free wheel between forward and reverse (or any other shift for that matter) on the GST is terrifying on hills. You learn really quickly on a GST that proper direction AND speed must be chosen BEFORE the hill.

The hydro is less than ideal for roading or long distances, especially on the TLB series as there is no cruise control.

To give the OP some perspective here is a common loader work scenario:

GST

Shuttle lever forward drive towards pile.
Approach pile, drop shifter on right side to lower gear.
Lower bucket engage material.
As bucket is being curled/raised shuttle lever backwards to reverse.
Once clear of pile shuttle lever forward.
Move shifter up gear for travel speed.
Approach dump site, lower shifter.
If precise you may need to use foot clutch.
Dump material.
Move shuttle to reverse.
Then move shuttle forward to drive away, shift lever up as needed for ground speed.

As you can see, your arms are getting quite a workout. Your left hand is constantly moving from steering wheel to GST shuttle, your right from loader control to GST shifter. There is a lot to do, but once you get it down it is fast and can be pretty efficient.

HST
You never "shift" on the L45. You select "M" range and rock your foot back and forth. With auto-load sensing the machine will automatically drop to M "turtle" when you engage the material pile if necessary and shift up to M "rabbit" once you are traveling. Simply rock your foot back and forth for forward/reverse. Your hands are left free to operate the steering wheel and loader control.

I THOROUGHLY enjoy owning/operating both machines. Both are worlds more capable than the similar HP CUT offerings.

ac

 

[avc8130]

I have inner & outer wheel Wieghts to add another 750 Lbs to stablize the tractor.
1 inch spacers are enough, 1.25" would be better.

Where did you find those spacers/weights?

 

[mike69440]

Where did you find those spacers/weights?

Back when I had access to the shop where I worked, this was a "Special Project"

I think a really good concept for wheel weights would be a sapcer with an offest flange that would accept additional 75-90 Lb weights. The weights would fill the hub side of the rim.

The weights stay in the hub when servicing the tire.

 

[mike69440]

That free wheel between forward and reverse (or any other shift for that matter) on the GST is terrifying on hills. You learn really quickly on a GST that proper direction AND speed must be chosen BEFORE the hill.

The hydro is less than ideal for roading or long distances, especially on the TLB series as there is no cruise control.

To give the OP some perspective here is a common loader work scenario:

GST

Shuttle lever forward drive towards pile.
Approach pile, drop shifter on right side to lower gear.
Lower bucket engage material.
As bucket is being curled/raised shuttle lever backwards to reverse.
Once clear of pile shuttle lever forward.
Move shifter up gear for travel speed.
Approach dump site, lower shifter.
If precise you may need to use foot clutch.
Dump material.
Move shuttle to reverse.
Then move shuttle forward to drive away, shift lever up as needed for ground speed.

As you can see, your arms are getting quite a workout. Your left hand is constantly moving from steering wheel to GST shuttle, your right from loader control to GST shifter. There is a lot to do, but once you get it down it is fast and can be pretty efficient.

HST
You never "shift" on the L45. You select "M" range and rock your foot back and forth. With auto-load sensing the machine will automatically drop to M "turtle" when you engage the material pile if necessary and shift up to M "rabbit" once you are traveling. Simply rock your foot back and forth for forward/reverse. Your hands are left free to operate the steering wheel and loader control.

I THOROUGHLY enjoy owning/operating both machines. Both are worlds more capable than the similar HP CUT offerings.

ac

You are correct regarding loading with a GST, but I don't even think about the sequence you describe, it just sort of happens, like breathing.

PS

I can hit 15-16 indicated MPH on level smooth ground in 12th gear roading. 15 mph feels like over 100 MPH in the L39.